Premier Dalton McGuinty is urging opposition politicians to search their conscience before voting on a contempt motion against Energy Minister Chris Bentley.

McGuinty cancelled a scheduled appearance at the University of Toronto today to urge PC leader Tim Hudak and NDP leader Andrea Horwath to allow a free vote on the contempt motion, which would send the issue to a committee.

He says it would be wrong for the Tories and New Democrats, who outnumber the minority Liberals, to find Bentley in contempt, something that’s never happened to a member of the Ontario legislature.

The contempt motion was triggered by the government’s refusal to release documents on the cost of cancelling two power plants in Oakville and Mississauga.

McGuinty says past governments of all stripes cancelled projects that cost taxpayers’ money in the process, but no one was ever charged with contempt.

The premier says he was also surprised the New Democrats sided with the Tories to end debate on the contempt motion, something he notes the NDP never votes to do.

The procedural move last night caught the Liberals off guard, saying they had more members who wanted to speak in Bentley’s defence, including McGuinty.

Hudak says people are “damn angry” at the Liberals for spending hundreds of millions of dollars to cancel the power plants just to save Liberal seats.

The motion also calls on Bentley to release more documents on the cancelled gas plants, and sends the entire issue — including contempt — to the finance committee.

Both opposition parties have been anxious to get the gas plants issue to committee, where they can call witnesses.

There have been no question periods, members’ statements or other regular legislative business since the Tories introduced the contempt motion last Tuesday.

McGuinty says the Conservatives “crossed a line” when they taunted Bentley by saying a finding of contempt would kill his legal career and hurt his chances at becoming the next leader of the Liberal party.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s Conservatives were elected with their first majority last year after being found in contempt of Parliament just months before the election.